Netsuke and Inro at Rutherston & Bandini - Overview

Rutherston & Bandini Ltd is a business dedicated to Japanese art in all its forms, but specialising in Japanese antique netsuke, inro, lacquer, sword fittings and ceramics.

Netsuke

Our collection of antique Japanese netsuke ranges from the Edo period to the modern day, in a variety of materials, the majority in ivory, wood or stag antler, but also in lacquer, ceramic and metal. Japanese inro, portable containers, made mostly in lacquer, range from the Momoyama through the Edo to the Meiji period.

Netsuke - History

Pronounced 'net-ski', netsuke are miniature sculptures carved by skilled artists known as netsukeshi.
Originating in the early years of the Tokugawa regime and continuing through to the Meiji period (1603-1912), the original function of the netsuke was to anchor a hanging article, sagemono, from the obi, the sash worn to fasten a kimono.
The netsuke came into use as a utilitarian object but quickly developed into a decorative adornment reflecting its wearer's taste and status.

Netsuke Collecting - An Evaluation

Japanese antique netsuke are one of the most well-known and popular forms of Japanese art in the West nowadays. Their immediate appeal and skilful carving make antique netsuke highly sought after by Japanese antique collectors globally. Netsuke often embody a lively sense of humour and can be easily understood.
Japanese netsuke are considered remarkable works of art for their meticulous attention to detail and their small size.
These are only a few factors that help to explain the growing popularity of Japanese netsuke as Japanese art collectibles.
It was in the Meiji period, when Japan reopened to the outside world, that the popularity of netsuke (and inro) took off. The first recorded foreign collector of netsuke was probably the German born physician and botanist from Holland called Philipp von Siebold who in the 1830s purchased carvings of the 12 animals of the Zodiac directly from the Hakata (Kyushu Island) netsuke carver Otoman (Otomitsu). Along with 5000 varied objects from his collection, these formed the Museum Japonicum bequeathed to the city of Leiden in Holland the founding core of what would become the world's first ethnographic museum in that city.

Many important collections were formed in Europe in the late 19th century, notably in France, Britain and Germany, several of which were dispersed in auctions held in the first two decades of the 20th century.

The dispersal of the Mark T. Hindson collection by Sotheby's in several auctions between 1967 and 1969 was a watershed in establishing a new level of prices for netsuke, inspiring a new generation of collectors and further promoting the popularity of this Japanese art form.

Wood Netsuke

The earliest netsuke consisted of mostly found objects, including pieces of root wood or driftwood reflecting the Japanese appreciation of natural forms. There is a long tradition of carving wood in Japan, as it has always been an easily accessible material. Some famous netsuke carvers were also celebrated carvers of temple statues.
Even today the Japanese taste favours netsuke in wood over other materials.

Ivory Netsuke

Ivory was a prized imported material, arriving in Japan via China by the Silk route, as well as by sea. Ivory netsuke are much appreciated in the West, the material being very suitable for creative carving.
Although the most common are netsuke in elephant ivory, which is distinguished by the geometric pattern of intersecting circles (known as Schreger lines), many Japanese netsuke were also made in different marine ivories, such as the teeth of mammals (whales, seals and sea lions) or the tusks of walrus and narwhal, which are distinctive for a creamy, somewhat translucent appearance.
Ivory netsuke are probably more durable than ones in wood and of course the material would have been expensive, reflecting the wealth of the wearer.
Nowadays collectors are more influenced by the quality of the carving than the material used.

Stag Antler Netsuke

Some of the most quirky and original netsuke are created in stag antler, a notoriously difficult material to carve. The netsuke artist has to successfully exploit the uneven porous nature of the antler to incorporate the natural features into the overall design. It was a favourite material for carvers of Ryusa style manju netsuke.

Types of Netsuke

Japanese netsuke come in numerous styles.

• Katabori - or sculptural Netsuke, is the most common type of Netsuke. Katabori are compact three-dimensional figures usually carved in the round and most often 1 -3 inches in height.

• Sashi - are an elongated form of katabori which tucks under the obi sash; usually around 6 inches in length.

• Manju - shaped like a Japanese manju (bun). These come either as a solid piece or in two halves with carving usually done in relief or incised, the shape resembling a round and flat button.

• Kagamibuta - are a combination of a turned bowl usually in ivory or wood, with an inset metal cover with decoration incised or in relief, sometimes a combination of the two. The shape is broadly similar to the manju, though flat on top.

• Men - also known as Mask Netsuke, replicate masks from the different traditions (Gigaku, Kyogen, Noh etc.). This style of netsuke is the biggest category after katabori.
  

Netsuke Subject Categories

Popular subjects of Netsuke include animals, religious and mythological figures, daily life, erotic themes and a range of flowers.

The subjects of netsuke, perhaps more than other forms of Japanese art, reflect the nature of the Japanese society that produced them, the internal politics of the Edo and Meiji periods, and the geography of the country. Furthermore Japanese custom and law often limited the avenues of self-expression open to its people, and so netsuke commonly served to fill that void. Happily this has resulted in an art form that portrays almost all aspects of the life and culture of Japan including the religious, the mythological, flora and fauna, everyday trades and professions.

Japanese Antique Netsuke and Japanese Art Online

A representative but small selection of Japanese antique Netsuke and Japanese art can be viewed here on our website, but our stock is much larger than appears here, and is constantly updated. In netsuke we normally have a selection of at least 200; our prices range widely and include affordable carvings as well as netsuke masterpieces.
Should you be interested in knowing the price of a netsuke or other work of art you see here, please contact us through the contact form on the website.

All of us at Rutherston and Bandini hope you enjoy our website and new blog on Japanese art, Japanese Antiques and Netsuke.